Russian Rights Defender Says Dadin Must Be Moved To Different Prison

A member of Russia's presidential council for human rights has advised that activist Ildar Dadin, who claims to have been tortured and beaten in prison, be moved to a different facility.

Igor Kalyapin, who visited Dadin, said on November 8 that tensions between him and the guards at the IK-7 prison in the northwestern town of Segezha were “too deep” and the activist needed to be transferred.

Dadin's claimed in a letter to his wife that he had been tortured and threatened while serving his 2 1/2-year sentence, which started in December.

The Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) said on November 2 that doctors had found no traces of trauma or assault on Dadin, but rights defenders expressed doubts over the independence of the findings.

Dadin, 34, was the first person convicted in Russia of taking part in multiple unsanctioned protests. He received a three-year sentence in December that was later reduced by six months.